Newport Harbor rallies past Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach running back Bowen Breunigis is brought down by Newport Harbor's Armani Johnson, and Tala Teaupa (2) after a short gain on Friday night at at Newport .CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER

NEWPORT BEACH – Newport Harbor went into Friday's Sunset League game against Huntington Beach in need of a victory to keep its playoff hopes strong.

Not only did the Sailors win, they did it in comeback fashion, beating the Oilers, 20-17, at Newport Harbor.

The Sailors (4-4, 2-1), ranked No. 15 in the county, were down, 17-7, late in the third quarter after the Oilers (4-4, 2-1) made an 18-yard field goal.

The Sailors responded on their next possession. Quest Truxton caught a 39-yard scoring pass from sophomore quarterback Cole Norris that ended a nine-play drive to cut the lead to 17-14 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

It was Truxton's second touchdown reception of the game.

The Sailors defense, which allowed 166 rushing yards in the first half, stepped up the intensity in the second half.

Garrett Hall intercepted a pass from Oilers quarterback Kai Ross at the Sailors 47-yard line at the end of the quarter. The Sailors were forced to punt, but when the Oilers took their first possession of the fourth quarter, the Sailors defense stood its ground again.

Derek Kula stopped Oilers running back Bowen Breunig on fourth down and the Sailors took over on downs.

Breunig had 92 rushing yards in the first half and only 20 yards in the second half.

The Sailors' Tala Teaupa pounded the ball up the middle for a first down at the Oilers' 1-yard line. Two plays later, Norris scored from 1 to give the Sailors their first lead of the game, 20-17, with 7:06 to play.

"I have to give our defensive coaches a lot of credit," Coach Jeff Brinkley said. "They made the right adjustments in the second half and were able to stop the run. Going into halftime, I told the kids we only down by one score. They understood that and did a great job."

In the first half, the Oilers offense was firing on all cylinders. Ross completed a 29-yard pass to Marco Valenzuela for a 7-0 lead with 5:54 in the first quarter. After a punt by the Sailors, the Oilers scored in less than three minutes when Ross ran it in from 2-yards out. The Sailors running game was challenged, but the passing game was clicking. At the Oilers 6-yard line, Norris fumbled the snap but remained patient and found Truxton in the corner of the end zone to cut the Oilers' lead to 14-7 with 5:15 left in the second quarter. Norris went 10 for 18 for 82 yards with two touchdown passes.

The Oilers were tied for first in the Sunset League with Edison going into Friday's game. They play host to Los Alamitos on Friday. The Sailors play host to Marina, which was tied for last place with Fountain Valley, on Friday.

When asked about making the playoffs, Brinkley said: "You never know with this league, but right now we'll enjoy this win."

Huntington Beach running back Bowen Breunigis is brought down by Newport Harbor's Armani Johnson, and Tala Teaupa (2) after a short gain on Friday night at at Newport . CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach wide receiver Marco Valenzuela catches the ball for a touchdown against Newport Harbor on Friday night at Newport. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach quarterback Kai Ross breaks away on a long run to the five-yard line to set up a touchdown in the first half against Newport Harbor on Friday night at Newport. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Newport Harbor's Cory Stowell (5) reaches for a pass intended for Huntington Beach wide receiver Nolan Thompson on Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Newport Harbor running back Marty Taylor is tackled by Huntington Beach's Brayden McRae in the first half at Newport Harbor on Friday. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach's Bowen Breunig makes a short gain before getting tackled by Newport Harbor's Derek Kula in the first half of their football game on Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Newport Harbor quarterback Cole Norris prepares to hand the ball off in the first half of their game against Huntington Beach on Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach's Bowen Breunig makes a short gain before getting tackled by Newport Harbor's Derek Kula in the first half of their football game on Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Newport Harbor running back Tala Teaupa fights off Huntington Beach's Sebastian Demartini at Newport Harbor on Friday. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Newport Harbor quarterback Cole Norris fires off a a pass in the second half of their game against Huntington Beach on Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach's Bowen Breunig struggles for yardage before getting tackled by Newport Harbor's Derek Kula in the second half of their football game on Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach wide receiver Maurice Barber gives it his all, but comes up just short of a first down in the second half of a football game on Friday against Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Huntington Beach wide receiver Maurice Barber battles the Newport Harbor defense on a fourth and fifteen in the second half of a football game Friday at Newport Harbor. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER
Newport Harbor running back Tala Teaupa breaks away from the Huntington Beach defense at Newport Harbor on Friday. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER

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